The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday demanded action after a 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped on the orders of her community’s head in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district.

The girl was raped at Gulgulia village, located about 60 km from Bokaro on Monday.

“Action should be taken in matters where these regional panchayats do injustice to women. Inhuman things are happening this way,” Shamina Shafiq, NCW member, told ANI.

“Why doesn’t the district administration make people aware of things? National Commission for Protection of Child Rights should come first in it as it’s the matter of the child girl. If they will not take any actions then NCW will get involved in this,” Shafiq added.

The Bokaro rape case has elicited strong reactions from leaders and activists like Jagmati Sangwan of the All India Women’s Association (AIDWA), who strongly denounced the alleged rape and demanded strict action against the accused.

Police said Harendra Pasi of the Gulgulia village – which is inhabited by Gulgulias, a Mahadalit group – entered the house of his neighbour Nakabandi Pasi at midnight on Sunday and tried to outrage the modesty of his wife.

On Monday, Nakabandi reported the matter to his father-in-law and also lodged a complaint with the community head, Ghosal Pasi.

The community elders soon held a meeting and under the aegis of Ghosal ordered that the accused’s minor sister be raped to avenge the crime.

The 10-year-old girl was forcibly taken away from her house and raped on Monday evening.

Even as the crime was being committed, the villagers did not intervene fearing retaliation from Ghoshal.

Village head Vinod Vishwakarma refrained from intervening as he was threatened with dire consequences.

“He is a dominant person in his community,” said Vishwakarma.

Police have arrested Harendra Pasi and Nakabandi Pasi.

Ghoshal Pasi was arrested after local leaders mounted pressure on them.